The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-11-24
PENSION LEGISLATION.

Commissioners Blacks CircuIar-Its Purpose
and Its Probable Result.
Washington Special to st. Louis Globe Democrat.
The circular recently sent out by Pension
Commissioner Black is not meeting with the
prompt response that was anticipated for it.
The circular, it appears, has gone to the various
county clerks in the several States, with the OBJ
ject of elici ting from them information concern
ing the number of e1-soldiers and sailors ana
their DEPENDENT relatives. who from causes
within or beyond their control are dependent on
charity. The evident intention of the Commits
sion and Pension Bureau, however, is to provide
themselves with statistics in advance of the
coming session of Congress, so that early action
may be taken toward pension legislation. The
Presidents action in vetoine the dependent PEN
sion bill of the last session has had bad effect
upon the Democratic party, and with view to
neutralizing this, in measure, it IS understood
bill will be urged by the admin 1stration.
Just what will be embodied in 1t is not yet
known. will it be formulated until some sta
tistical information, such as requested in Com
mission Blacks circular. is obtained.
Gen. Black is now diminishing about the
country visiting the National Soldiers Homes,
and in addition to ascertaining how Cleveland
and Black" would sound for the Democratic
National ticket In 1858, he will endcavor to fluid
out what legislation is necessary to create a
kindly feeling for the administration among
the soldiers, if such thing be possible. It is
d
will be formulated although. of course, it will
not be done officially, is probable that
recommendation from the Commissioner or the
Pension Bureau to Congress as to pension leg
islation will be deemed prudent But by and
with the advice of MIR Black it is understood the
administration will prepare and present bill
which it is hoped to pass before the presidential
campaign opens
Hon. VIM. E. Mclean, First Deputy Com
missioner of Pensions, when asked by a Globe
Democrat representative to-day whether the cir
o.
islation, said that in the sense it was,
though not in the sense that Republican news
papers might construe it.
I've were frequently called upon during the
last A-ssion of Congress" said he, ''for informa
ton as 20 the number of dependent soldiers IN
the country, particularly when the dependent
pension bill was under consideration. We
sumo that there will be pension bills before
Congress again this winter, in which event the
information asked last year will be again
quired. That is why the circular was sent out"
Are you receiving any repliesp was asked.
"a few. It is probable that reports will be
more numerous in a few days, and by the time
Congress is we'll under way the information we
desire will be at hand. The circular sent
out in September. and of course it will take
some time to secure the statistics
.'What is the estimate of the bureau as to the
number of dependent soldiers who are unpen-
sionedl"
''The bureau has made none. and the object of
the circular is to secure the basis for such an
estimate. The records show that there were
2 700 0G0 enlisted Many of them enlisted two
or three or more times, and thus counted
that often Making allowance for this there
were probably z, 000, 900 enlisted men. With the
mortality papers used by insurance companies
basis it is estimated that about l. 100 900 of
these soldiers are yet living, and we know that
about 100000 are drawing pensions. while appli
cations for more than half that number now
pending. There are, of course. many dependent
ex-scldiers living in alms-house and charity
hospitals who have never been able TO establish
their claims. It is these whom we want to
find and presume the ultimate object is to do
something for their relief
will General Black the Pension Bureau
make any recommendations urge a bll?"
well, not exactly. A recommendation would
hardly be proper and while General Black
doubtless feels deeply interested in the welfare
of the old soldier, am Unauthorized to say what
he may do officially otherwise. AS for the
bureau think the members feel that action on
their part would be- improper. think the
bureau. however, looks with favor upon the
dependents bill recommended by the last Grand
Army. although some minor changes in it may
be necessary
do you think dependent p-nsion bill will
be passed this session view of the Presidents
veto of last winters bi?n
Possibly. / think the administration would
favor dependent pension bill with those OBJ
jectionable features which were in the last one
removed suppose such a bill will be intro
duced although am sure that General Black